According to the BusinessWaste.co.uk (one of the UK's leading waste and recycling experts), up to 80% of companies have no green policy in place and do not separate recyclable waste from non-recyclable.

"It reflects very badly upon us as a nation," said BusinessWaste.co.uk Jonathan Ratcliffe recycling manager, "Other countries have forged ahead with commercial recycling, but a high proportion of UK companies seemingly can't be bothered."

BusinessWaste.co.uk found that the most common things businesses are not recycling are the ones which are the easiest to recycle or purchase the facilities to send to the recycling sites.

"We're well aware that some companies will still fly-tip in this day-and-age," said Ratcliffe, "but we've found some smaller businesses prepared to admit that they dispose of their waste at the household tip while posing as a member of the public."

Fortunately, the government is incentivising green policies and recycling through tax breaks for energy efficiency, and the landfill tax which penalises organisations that do no recycle their waste.